Photos: “Dreamers” in Their Own Words

Stories of inspiring young people from across the nation.

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Meet Academy Dreamers - Disney’s fourth annual Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and Essence magazine brought together a group of inspiring young people from across the nation. Take a look at just a few of their stories and be inspired.

Princeton Parker - Becoming an ordained minister at the tender age of seven, Princeton Parker, now 16, showed his ambition from an early age. The Los Angeles student also participates in various jazz groups and served as youth ambassador for the California Arts Initiative. “My purpose is to reach people on a global scale through a religious and philanthropic platform,” he said. (Photo: Disney)

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Princeton Parker - Becoming an ordained minister at the tender age of seven, Princeton Parker, now 16, showed his ambition from an early age. The Los Angeles student also participates in various jazz groups and served as youth ambassador for the California Arts Initiative. “My purpose is to reach people on a global scale through a religious and philanthropic platform,” he said. (Photo: Disney)

Wayne Lyons - This Fort Lauderdale, Florida, scholar-athlete excels in the classroom and the field. Lyons (left) has the highest GPA in his class, started a virtual book club and mentoring club, serves as senior class president and is dual-enrolled at Broward College, where he’s already completed 37 college credits. He’s also a U.S. Army All-American football player. His favorite part of Dreamer’s Academy? “Talking to Steve Harvey and getting a chance to see the real Steve Harvey and not the comedian." (Photo: Todd Anderson)

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Wayne Lyons - This Fort Lauderdale, Florida, scholar-athlete excels in the classroom and the field. Lyons (left) has the highest GPA in his class, started a virtual book club and mentoring club, serves as senior class president and is dual-enrolled at Broward College, where he’s already completed 37 college credits. He’s also a U.S. Army All-American football player. His favorite part of Dreamer’s Academy? “Talking to Steve Harvey and getting a chance to see the real Steve Harvey and not the comedian." (Photo: Todd Anderson)

Shanice Alexander - Alexander, an Arizona high school junior, dreams of one day becoming a fashioneer (a cross between a fashion designer and an engineering manager), so she started a fashion club at her school. Outside of fashion, Alexander is active in her school’s environmental club, volunteers in a local hospital and is part of NASA’s online community. Being one of just three Black students at her school, the Dreamers Academy was a totally new and welcome experience for her. (Photo: Personal photo)

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Shanice Alexander - Alexander, an Arizona high school junior, dreams of one day becoming a fashioneer (a cross between a fashion designer and an engineering manager), so she started a fashion club at her school. Outside of fashion, Alexander is active in her school’s environmental club, volunteers in a local hospital and is part of NASA’s online community. Being one of just three Black students at her school, the Dreamers Academy was a totally new and welcome experience for her. (Photo: Personal photo)

Joseph Jacques - This 17-year-old Texas junior is active in his church and his top-ranked band, in which he is the only African-American on the drum line. Jacques, who hopes to design cars one day, wanted to come to Dreamer’s Academy to “learn how to stay focused on my dream.” (Photo: Personal photo)

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Joseph Jacques - This 17-year-old Texas junior is active in his church and his top-ranked band, in which he is the only African-American on the drum line. Jacques, who hopes to design cars one day, wanted to come to Dreamer’s Academy to “learn how to stay focused on my dream.” (Photo: Personal photo)

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Erik Hamlet - Hamlet, a student from Parkville, Maryland, felt a jumble of emotions at the start of the Dreamer’s Academy. “I’m really excited I’m here, but I’m also kind of scared,” he said, adding that because he was chosen out of so many people, he feels a little more pressure to take advantage of the opportunity. For the past several summers this aspiring entertainer has been volunteering at a summer camp for mentally challenged kids. (Photo: Dorothy Tene' Redmond)

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Erik Hamlet - Hamlet, a student from Parkville, Maryland, felt a jumble of emotions at the start of the Dreamer’s Academy. “I’m really excited I’m here, but I’m also kind of scared,” he said, adding that because he was chosen out of so many people, he feels a little more pressure to take advantage of the opportunity. For the past several summers this aspiring entertainer has been volunteering at a summer camp for mentally challenged kids. (Photo: Dorothy Tene' Redmond)

Diamond Simms - With an incarcerated father and a mother who has a substance-abuse problem, Simms (on the right), a Florida senior, says she had to find mother figures and father figures in other people. Despite a rough past, the aspiring broadcast journalist has gone on to excel in school and the community. When President Obama visited her school recently, she was selected to serve as an usher, but she turned down the opportunity to attend the Academy instead. “I have no regrets. I’m having so much fun." (Photo: Matt Stroshane)

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Diamond Simms - With an incarcerated father and a mother who has a substance-abuse problem, Simms (on the right), a Florida senior, says she had to find mother figures and father figures in other people. Despite a rough past, the aspiring broadcast journalist has gone on to excel in school and the community. When President Obama visited her school recently, she was selected to serve as an usher, but she turned down the opportunity to attend the Academy instead. “I have no regrets. I’m having so much fun." (Photo: Matt Stroshane)

Denzel Wilson - After suffering a stroke in 2005—in addition to several operations—Wilson, a 17-year-old student from Washington D.C. who was born with Marfan syndrome, primarily uses a wheelchair to get around. It doesn’t prevent him from living a pretty full life though, which includes his participation in D.C.’s Youth Summer Jobs program for two years. Anime and Japanese culture are his passion, and he hopes to one day own a cartoon company. (Photo: Todd Anderson)

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Denzel Wilson - After suffering a stroke in 2005—in addition to several operations—Wilson, a 17-year-old student from Washington D.C. who was born with Marfan syndrome, primarily uses a wheelchair to get around. It doesn’t prevent him from living a pretty full life though, which includes his participation in D.C.’s Youth Summer Jobs program for two years. Anime and Japanese culture are his passion, and he hopes to one day own a cartoon company. (Photo: Todd Anderson)

Demetrius Jackson - This Detroit freshman shines in chess, where he has ranked No. 20 out of 300 students in national competitions in recent years. “I’m competitive. I like to win and when I win it gives me motivation,” Jackson said. He added that he would like to be a forensic scientist when he gets older. (Photo: Personal photo)

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Demetrius Jackson - This Detroit freshman shines in chess, where he has ranked No. 20 out of 300 students in national competitions in recent years. “I’m competitive. I like to win and when I win it gives me motivation,” Jackson said. He added that he would like to be a forensic scientist when he gets older. (Photo: Personal photo)

Brittany Dunn - Dunn, a California high school senior, dreams of one day becoming a sports nutritionist and creating a health empire and a foundation that will aid orphans in Ghana. Her activities include helping the homeless, violin, track and field, basketball and serving as vice president of Black Student Union at her school. Dunn says that the “encouragement, as well as the discipline,” made her mother the most significant mentor in her life. “My mom keeps us grounded," she said. (Photo: Personal photo)

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Brittany Dunn - Dunn, a California high school senior, dreams of one day becoming a sports nutritionist and creating a health empire and a foundation that will aid orphans in Ghana. Her activities include helping the homeless, violin, track and field, basketball and serving as vice president of Black Student Union at her school. Dunn says that the “encouragement, as well as the discipline,” made her mother the most significant mentor in her life. “My mom keeps us grounded," she said. (Photo: Personal photo)

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Allisa Bryant - Bryant (far left), a Merriville, Indiana, 11th grader was adopted into a loving family after living in an abusive household when she was younger. She was excited to enter the Dreamers Academy and hopes to one day become a pediatrician. “I want to be a doctor that works with the patient and cares about the patient,” she said, “not one that just writes a prescription.” (Photo: Todd Anderson)

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Allisa Bryant - Bryant (far left), a Merriville, Indiana, 11th grader was adopted into a loving family after living in an abusive household when she was younger. She was excited to enter the Dreamers Academy and hopes to one day become a pediatrician. “I want to be a doctor that works with the patient and cares about the patient,” she said, “not one that just writes a prescription.” (Photo: Todd Anderson)

A’Dorian Murray-Thomas - This 11th grade honor student is from New Jersey but attends boarding school in Massachusetts. An aspiring activist who has traveled to South Africa and Brazil, she credits her new school for her success thus far . “Because I’ve been so blessed, it’s my duty to help those who are from the same place as me,” she said.(Photo: Disney)

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A’Dorian Murray-Thomas - This 11th grade honor student is from New Jersey but attends boarding school in Massachusetts. An aspiring activist who has traveled to South Africa and Brazil, she credits her new school for her success thus far . “Because I’ve been so blessed, it’s my duty to help those who are from the same place as me,” she said.(Photo: Disney)